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Claudia shook her head minutely but the situation was rapidly snowballing, as advisors accosted her from all sides.

‘I shall prepare a public notice at once,’ said the palace scribe. ‘Do you have any words of joy to share with the people?’

‘I will create another bust, right away,’ said the palace sculptor. ‘No – a relief. No! What am I saying? A full statue. In marble! You and Marcellus shall stand side by side in the courtyard!’

‘When do you intend on holding the ceremony?’

‘What gemstone would you like in your ring?’

‘What day should we declare a new public holiday?’

‘Should we set aside a room for a nursery?’

These were just the statements directed at her, but they were accompanied by a larger chorus of whispers she could only half make out.

‘Do you think the princess is with child?’

‘I thought she consorted with Celadus the Handsome?’

‘I heard she consorts with them all, if you know what I mean.’

The room was swarming with people, all of them calling her name and asking her questions. Claudia felt faint, snatched from reality and planted in a dream.

‘ENOUGH!’ she bellowed, in a voice so fierce she frightened even herself.

The room immediately quieted.

‘Marcellus is horribly mistaken,’ she said.

‘I am?’

Her cousin looked genuinely befuddled. Claudia couldn’t tell if it was an act, or if he really was that oblivious.

‘We are related, by blood,’ said Claudia.

‘It isn’t uncommon, nor against the law,’ he said.

‘I have no desire for you.’

‘It would be a marriage of convenience.’

‘It would be a marriage of inconvenience, for me personally.’

‘You should take the night to think on it.’

‘I don’t need to think about it.’

Claudia was agog at his obliviousness, his entitlement. She felt her temper spiking, making her left eye twitch.

‘I will not marry you, Marcellus,’ she said. ‘I can’t, in fact, marry you, because… because…’

Claudia looked to Gia. Her lover’s gaze seemed to scream, ‘say it, do it, be free’, but whatever courage she was hoping would empower her didn’t come. Only easy lies.

‘Because I am already engaged. Prince Darius of Persia has recently written to my father, about his intention to marry me.’

Several guests gasped, unaware of this fact.

‘And you intend to go through with it?’ asked Marcellus.